Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

A trio of strong five inning starts paved the way to a .500 day on the farm.

Tucson 5 @ Las Vegas 6 – Boxscore

Potentially looking at making his next start in the major leagues, Jesse Chavez didn’t put his best foot forward yesterday, although the start wasn’t a disaster. Over 6.2 innings, Chavez surrendered 10 hits and two walks. He allowed five runs, four earned. He struck out five and allowed a homer. Clint Everts retired a batter and then Jerry Gil came in for 2 hitless innings and picked up his fourth save of the year.

Adeiny Hechavarria led the attack with a 3-for-4 evening. He scored and added an RBI. Travis d’Arnaud was 2-for-4 and had the only extra-base hit by the 51’s, which was a triple. Adam Lind went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Eric Thames was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Thames also contributed with a sac fly and an outfield assist at home. Moises Sierra added a single and Anthony Gose was 1-for-5 with a strikeout.

New Hampshire 5 @ Richmond 6 (11 innings) – Link text

Yohan Pino didn’t give up a run in his 5 innings. He allowed two hits and struck out four. Sam Dyson also pitched two scoreless frames and the Fisher Cats took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th. However, Aaron Loup couldn’t hold the lead and surrendered three runs, two earned, in his inning. Loup allowed three hits and walked a pair.

The Fisher Cats didn’t give up, though, and Brian Van Kirk took one for the team. Mark Sobolewski singled him to second and Brad McElroy laid down the sac bunt. A wild pitch scored Van Kirk and advanced Sobolewski to third. However, New Hampshire couldn’t push across the go-ahead run as Ryan Goins and John Tolisano grounded out.

Evan Englebrook pitched two scoreless innings in relief. In the top of the 11th, Van Kirk singled with one out and then Sobolewski struck out. Gabe Jacobo hit for McElroy and drew a walk. Justin Jackson came in to run for Jacobo. Goins came through with a key double, scoring both Van Kirk and Jackson.

Fernando Hernandez came in to protect the lead, but unfortunately couldn’t. He immediately got into a world of trouble with a walk, single, and after a ground out, there was a walk and three more singles and a walk off victory for Richmond.

Palm Beach 6 @ Dunedin 4 – Link text

A day after the Lugnuts had a thrilling pitching performance in a 1-0 loss, Dunedin replicated the result, but without quite the same excitement. Egan Smith started for the D-Jays and went 5 innings. He walked one and surrendered two hits. Smith struck out a pair. Trystan Magnuson struck out two in his inning and then turned the ball over to Dayton Martze. Martze pitched a scoreless 7th inning, but allowed a run in the 8th on a double and single.

Dunedin had three hits. Jake Marisnick, Marcus Knecht and Kevin Ahrens all hit doubles, but they couldn’t cash any of them. Knecht also drew a walk, as did Ryan Schimpf. Ben Francisco and Travis Snider each went 0-for-4 on rehab assignments.

Lansing 7 @ Fort Wayne 0 – Boxscore

A day after being shutout, Lansing returned the favour to Fort Wayne as the tandem starting pair of Anthony DeSclafani and Noah Syndergaard had their best performance of the year. DeSclafani gave up four hits and a pair of walks over 5 innings and Syndergaard followed him with 4 innings where he struck out six. Syndergaard allowed three hits and two walks.

The Lugnuts scored seven runs on nine hits off TinCaps pitching. Kenny Wilson was the only player with a multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBIs. KC Hobson and Gustavo Pierre each hit solo homers. Carlos Perez and Kevin Patterson added doubles, while Andy Fermin and Chris Hawkins pitched in with singles. Hobson, Patterson and Marcus Brisker each drew a walk and Fermin and Perez both drew a pair of free passes. Hawkins and Wilson both drove in two runs and among the defensive contributions were a pickoff at second base by Perez and an outfield assist by Hawkins.

Three Stars:
3rd Star – Mike McDade, 3-for-5, R, HR, RBI, 6 TB
2nd Star – Egan Smith, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
1st Star – Yohan Pino, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Posted by Thomas on Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 07:15 AM EDT.

Five Inning Stars | 21 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Mike Green - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:15 AM EDT (#258596) #

The key play in the 51s game was in the bottom of the sixth. The 51s trailed 4-2, bases loaded, two out and Gose up. Gose hits a ground ball which the pitcher (Kip Wells) fields and throws away. All three baserunners score and Gose ends up at third and scores on a Hechavarria single. Gose is credited with a single.

China fan - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:28 AM EDT (#258597) #

One of the New Hampshire reporters is speculating that Pino will be promoted to replace Drabek in his next scheduled start. Pino was pulled from the game last night after a relatively low number of pitches, despite his shutout. Any thoughts on Pino? He's too old to be a prospect, I think, so it's hard to get excited about the idea of giving major-league starts to a non-prospect. On the other hand, he's no older than Chavez, who might be the alternative. And Pino has certainly pitched better than McGuire or Jenkins this season, so on that basis he might deserve a chance at the promotion.

Marc Hulet - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#258598) #

I hesitate to think the Jays would juggle the 40-man for Pino. He sits right around 90 mph and succeeds due to good command/control. The club already has a bunch of options on the 40-man roster like Chavez (higher ceiling) and Joel Carreno (higher ceiling)... plus Beck, and Coello. Pino is a good organizational soldier. By adding him to the 40, you may then have to take him off later in the year for other, more important, players and risk losing him on waivers. The pitching depth in the upper minors is already thin so the move doesn't make a ton of sense.

China fan - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:34 AM EDT (#258599) #

Just to continue the thought: Pino and Chavez are both 28, while Coello is 27. None of them are prospects. But if Brett Cecil gets promoted to replace Morrow, and if the Jays need another pitcher to take Drabek's slot in the rotation, there's no obvious prospect to replace him (except perhaps Carreno). It's pretty obvious that Jenkins and McGuire are not ready. So then you're looking around for another arm, and Pino might be as good as Chavez or Coello.

Pino was pulled after 59 pitches last night, despite having a two-hit shutout going. There are no reports that he was injured. But there were unconfirmed reports that he might be heading to Toronto.

China fan - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:36 AM EDT (#258601) #

Marc, just saw your comments. Thanks for those points. I agree with you about the 40-man roster issue -- it's a good point. And yes, Chavez might have a higher ceiling. On the other hand, Chavez was not very impressive last night, and it's a little weird that Pino would be pulled after 59 pitches when he was in complete control of the game. We shall see.

Gerry - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:45 AM EDT (#258602) #

I agree with Marc, there is virtually no chance Pino would get the call. Pitchers are pulled from games for many reasons. Like Marc said Pino is a command/control pitcher who has succeeded at AA but who has struggled at AAA. Why would he get a call? Pino can maintain a 4+ ERA in AA but his lowest ERA in AAA since 2010 is 5.75.

Mike Green - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#258603) #

Pino may have a future in the major leagues, but if it happens, it would likely be in the bullpen. He is pretty effective against RHBs.

greenfrog - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 10:06 AM EDT (#258605) #

Hech is having himself quite a season. Have there been any scouting reports on him of late? Is he making legitimate strides with his offensive approach? (You would think so, but we are talking about Vegas.)

whiterasta80 - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 10:08 AM EDT (#258606) #

Pino getting pulled may just be a trickle-down effect (i.e. someone from Vegas is going up, Vegas then needs someone to start).

Given our record at this point, the fact that we sat so long on Lind and Thames, and the fact that we've shown no urgency in adding a starter (we could have Blanton or John Lannan here tomorrow if we wanted) it is pretty clear that this is a season for reconciliation and development. Given that, I don't get the aversion to bringing up either Jenkins or Deck. Their numbers aren't great at all but in my mind there aren't any better options in the minors (true prospects) and you never know when you might catch lightening in a bottle (Ricky Romero comes to mind as a first round pick who just got it all of a sudden).

The other option would be stretching Villaneueva out.

DJRob - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 10:11 AM EDT (#258607) #

I had no idea Kip Wells was still pitching.

I once thought he was pretty good. It looks like he was injured or retired last year but he hasn't had an era better than 5.09 in the majors since 2005 or even played at that level since 2009. Best of luck to him on the comeback but I'm glad he isn't pitching for Vegas...

He was traded in 2006 to Texas for his last night's opponent, Jesse Chavez.

85bluejay - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 10:23 AM EDT (#258609) #

I'm okay with giving Cecil/Chavez/Carreno the starting spots available - I hope there's no overpaying with prospects for veteran pitchers, willing to take on salary - Jenkins & McGuire are struggling mightily in AA so I'm against giving them a shot - a reward for poor performance in AA is not a good signal /might destroy them if they get hammered /not on 40 man roster.

acepinball - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#258616) #

I'm going to go on a limb and say Deck doesn't pitch in the big leagues this year. He has one more season before he needs to be added to the 40 man, and hasn't done anything to justify his call-up. They'll save an option and give themselves another year with him. Expect him up towards the end of next year (Sept. at the latest) when they can call him up and not send him down- which also preserves an option.

Jenkins will have to be added to the 40 man, so he'll be up in September.

Unless either are traded, of course.

hypobole - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 12:58 PM EDT (#258618) #

What happens if Jenkins isn't added to the 40 man? His line in AA is ugly - 51 IP, 67 H, 14 BB, 20 K, 10 HR, 6.35 ERA, with equal ineffectiveness vs both RHB's and LHB's. I could see a team picking up a power arm with control issues in the Rule 5. But would any team carry a pitcher who throws hittable slop like Jenkins on its 25 man for an entire season? And as far as trade - does he have any value whatsoever?

tstaddon - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 01:41 PM EDT (#258620) #

With it looking more and more like Chavez might be the guy on Monday, I wrote a detailed look at his career up-to-this-point over at:

http://www.therichardandmartin.com/2012/06/14/projecting-jesse-chavez/

Sorry to hop on here and post a link off-site. But thought it might interest. Cheers.

sam - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#258621) #

tstaddon, cool site!

TamRa - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 04:01 PM EDT (#258633) #

not an immediate solution but MLBTR reports Ben Sheets is throwing four team scouts and you have to think the Jays have someone watching him.

Might be a nice mid-season play if they still think they have a shot or they think they don't need to have a spot for in-house options in play.

I'm convinced Cecil is going to be in Morrow's spot although they might use the off day to get Alvarez in between the two lefties. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess though they do seem to have magnified interest in Coello lately.

TamRa - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#258643) #

For Gerry - with the A-ball ASBs begining tomorrow for Dunedin and Monday for Lansing, do you know whether (or anticipate) that the Jays will use this time to move some players around?

One thing that jumped out at me is the potential to advance Nicolino and Sanchez to Dunedin (pushing aside Lawrence and Smith) so as to provide room for the breaking up of the paired starters after the break. Seems to me they'd rather step on the guys who are clearly OP rather than guys with some potential.

Also, I wonder if Nolin or, less likely, Stetson might be eyed for promotion to NH since that rotation is not as flush with prospects as it had been in the spring.

ayjackson - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#258647) #

Stilson

Super Bluto - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 11:31 PM EDT (#258658) #

Lind removed from the game tonight in LV after four innings. Dr. A. Beck to the DL?

92-93 - Thursday, June 14 2012 @ 11:33 PM EDT (#258659) #

Unless Snider's wrist is still wonky he should be on his way to Vegas; Dunedin has the weekend off for all-star weekend.

tstaddon - Friday, June 15 2012 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#258686) #

hey thanks, sam. it's been coming together over the past few months. so the kind words are very much appreciated. more things like the chavez piece to come. let me know if there's anything you'd been interested in!

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